Life-saving apparatus for boats



F. F. LOWNDES.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS FOR BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. l9l9.

Patented July 5, 1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK FORBES LOWNDES, OF GISBORNE, ZEALAND.

LIFE-SAVIN G APPARATUS FOR BOATS.

To all whom it may concern:

e it known that I, FRANK Fonnns Lownnns, a subject or" the King of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at Gisborne, in the Dominion of NewZealand, have invented a new and useful improvement in Life-SavingApparatus for Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in life saving apparatus forboats.

The object or" the invention is to provide convenient means by which agrip may be obtained whereby shipwrecked persons will be enabled tocling to overturned boats, and whereby such overturned boats may be moreeasily righted to their ordinary positions.

According hereto, upon the side of the keel, rails are provided toenable a firm grip to be obtained on the boat. The rails are preferablyhinged and lodged flush in recesses in the sides of the keel in order toprevent them becoming damaged, either when the lifeboats are upon a shipor during launching, and also to avoid any undue reduction in speed.

The rails are so arranged that they may be readily opened from theirclosed positions, and when they are opened they will remain in such openposition, but may be replaced in their original closed positions whendesired.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1, is a plan of an upturned boat with the rails shown in the openposition.

Fig. 2, is an end elevation of the keelwith one rail open and the otherclosed.

Fig. 3, is a side elevation of part of the device. I I

Fig. 4, is an elevation of a keel fitted with a fixed rail by way ofmodification.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3thereof, upon the keel 1 of the boat 2 is mounted a rail 3 by means ofhinges 4. The hinges 4 are kept open by stays 5 jointed together at 6and linked to the hinges at 7 and to a bracket 8 on the keel 1. Thejoint at 6 is limited in its movement by the lug 9 (Figs. 2 and Grooves10 running along the keel form recesses to receive the rail 3 when thedevice is closed. The device may be opened by gripping the rail atsuitably placed cavitles 11 (Fig. 2) provided in the keel ad acent tothe rail. The rails may be closed by push- Specification of LettersPatent.

"Application filed November 18, 1919.

Patented July 5, 1921.

Serial No. 338,866.

ing into the stays 5. A modification of the device is shown in Fig. 4where the rails 3 are shown fixed by means of pieces of fiat material 12which are bent to form brackets 13 to which the rails 3'are fixed in asuitable manner. The rails 3 afford a good grip whereby a person in thewater may cling to an overturned boat and enable the boat to be returnedto its proper position.

What I claim is:

1. In a life saving apparatus for boats, a boat, a keel on said boat, arail hinged to the keel to swing on an axis parallel with the keel, onerail upon each side of said keel and arranged longitudinally therewith,

7 said rail being positioned at a slight distance from said keel toenable a grip to be secured on said boat when upturned, and whereby thesaid boat may be righted, substantially as described.

2. In life saving apparatus of the kind described, a boat, a keel onsaid boat, a rail upon each side of said keel arranged longitudinallytherewith and positioned at a slight distance laterally from said keel,said rail hinged to said keel so as to enable it to be closed againstthe side of the said keel and means whereby the said rail may beretained in its open position, substantially as described.

8. In life saving apparatus of the kind described a boat, a keel on saidboat, a rail upon each side of said keel arranged longitudinallytherewith and positioned at a slight distance laterally from said keel,said rail hinged to said keel so as to enable it to be closed againstthe side of the said keel, means whereby the said rail may be retainedin its open position and grooves upon the sides of said keel to enablerails to lie flush with the keel, substantially as described.

4. In life saving apparatus of the kind described a boat, a keel on saidboat, rail upon each side or" said keel arranged longitudinallytherewith and positioned at a slight distance laterally from said keel,said rail hinged to said keel so as to enable it to be closed againstthe side of said keel, means whereby the said rail may be retained inits open position, and cavities at intervals in the side of the saidkeel to enable a persons hand to be inserted to grip the rail,substantially as described.

5. In life saving apparatusof the kind described, a boat, a keel on saidboat, a rail upon each side of said keel arranged longiopened and closedindependently of the other sections, substantially as described.

6. In life saving apparatus of the kind described a boat, a keel on saidboat, a rail upon each side of said keel, arranged. longitudinallytherewith and positioned} at a slight distance laterally from said keel,

hinges articulating said rail to said keel, stays pivoted to hinges andto said keel, said stays jointed at substantially theirlcenter so as tosupport the rail in'an openpo sition but to permit'o'f it being closedagainst o "the :side of the .keel, substantially as de} scribed;

In testimony whereof, I have signed niy name to this specification inthe presence of two'SubScribii1g Witnesses; I

FRANK FORBES LOW VNDES.

Witnesses: I r l j S; 'MoRRnLL, V SYDNEY H. HIGGs;

